US court allows apartheid claims to proceed

WASHINGTON, May 12 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed on Monday a ruling that apartheid victims who seek damages exceeding $400 billion from more than 50 major corporations can go forward with their lawsuits.

With four justices recused from the case and therefore lacking a quorum, the high court issued a brief order simply affirming a ruling by a U.S. appeals court in New York that reinstated the lawsuits by the plaintiffs, who claim the companies violated international law by assisting the apartheid system in South Africa. (Reporting by James Vicini, Editing by Gerald E. McCormick)